1066 COUNTRY MARKETING
EXECUTIVE MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY 17th MARCH 2015
THE LODGE, WINCHELSEA
Present:
George Bailey / ChairmanDiane Foxley / Attractions Group
Chrissie Upton / Attractions Group
John Smith / Rye
Derek Holman / Rye (Guest/Observer)
Melanie Powell / Rother District Council
Kevin Huggett / Hastings
Jane Kilby / Wealden District Council
Brian Storkey / Bexhill
Cllr Andrew Ratcliffe / Battle
Kevin Boorman / 1066 Country Marketing
Debbie Clifford / 1066 Country Marketing
Sarah Crosby / 1066 Country Marketing
1 APOLOGIES
Jane Ellis / 1066 Country Marketing2 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
Minutes of the last meeting were agreed
3 MATTERS ARISING
Cultural Activity update – a meeting was held last week to discuss the events around the 950th Anniversary – it is proposed to hold 2/3 large scale events such as a light/sound show, a performance event and possibly an installation – Hastings Borough Council have allocated £100,000 for this and it is hoped that it will be match funded. The weekend of celebrations is 1/2nd October to allow for the normal events around October to take place and to be mindful of the re-enactment on by English Heritage. There was discussion about passing on knowledge for the events to bus drivers and taxi drivers etc and it was thought that perhaps a postcard of information would work or some kind of staff card/pass could be looked into.
4 MARKETING PLAN/E-MARKETING PLANS 2015
Kevin had already prepared papers and was pleased to confirm that budgets for Hastings and Rother had been agreed.
There was discussion on the Digital Visitor Campaign as this had not been tried before but looked to be a good campaign for 1066 Country to run with. Kevin and Debbie explained how it would work and fit in with the Marketing Plan.
There were various questions/concerns on tracking, changing the campaign if needed, costs, brief etc which were all taken into account.
Agreed that Kevin pursue this campaign with Digital Visitor, and look at negotiating the best deal where possible and try to include penalty causes within contract if possible. As soon as information is received from Digital Visitor it will be circulated to the Exec Board.
The Marketing Plan was also agreed (subject to item C for press being proactive as well as reactive).
5 BATTLE 950 RELAY
Kevin has circulated a paper prior to the meeting, explaining that he had received an event idea from Nick Brown offering to organise a Pevensey to Battle run on the morning of Sunday 16th October 2016 to help celebrate the Battle of Hastings 950th anniversary.
It should be noted that the entrants are ‘elite’ runners and is expected to receive good media coverage. 1066 Country would be involved in the marketing.
No main road closures are required for the event (just the small lane leading to Battle Abbey). Nick will be working with Eric Hardwicke who is known for organising the Hastings Half Marathon.
The group felt that local community/education groups should be involved in the race and Kevin to ask Nick to secure a set number of teams for this.
The group felt it would be a good addition to the programme of events for 2016, and agreed the sponsorship from 1066 Country.
Post Meeting note –Kevin has liaised with Nick re local entrants from running groups and schools/colleges and Nick has agreed that 10-20 places will be reserved for these local groups.
6 MARKETING UPDATE
1066 Update – Kevin read the following report from Jane:
a)Press/Fam trips that have taken place
Canadian travel trade operator trip organised in 1066 Country via Visit Britain 1 – 3 March 2015.
10 Canadian tour operators visited Battle, Hastings Old Town, Rye & Winchelsea and several have already amended their itineraries to include 1066 Country in future programmes. Good interest in 2016 anniversary of Battle of Hastings.
Japanese Magazine – RSVP – day spent in Rye
b)Press/Fam Trips in the pipeline
Plenty of interest via contacts made at two media workshops attended in February and March. Good proactive interest from UK media.
Group press trip for September from Belgium with P&O Ferries.
c)Press generated, online or hard copy.
http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/travel/travel-east-sussex-england-1-3690483
Evening Standard, 892,993 circulation
1,625,000 readership Coastal Culture Trail – Hastings & Bexhill
Guardian Let’s Go To….Rye http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jan/13/rye-east-sussex-weekend-break
L’Eventail (Belgian/ French lifestyle magazine) – Gardens Special on Pashley Manor (Sissinghurst and Borde Hill) and other tourist attractions in 1066 Country - 16.000 ex monthly, 108.000 readers, 2700 Euro/page
Conde Nast Traveller
http://www.cntraveller.com/recommended/coast-countryside/insider-guide-hastings-sussex-uk
80,138 copies sold each month, 335,000 readership, high spending, intelligent, discerning. 27% of readers subscribe.
AVE: double page spread = £30,000
Marie Claire –Feb 23rd http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/travel/country/548521/easy-escapes-coastal-cultural-trail.html
Guardian Let’s Go To…Hastings http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/feb/10/hastings-east-sussex-weekend-break
http://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/558164/Top-10-places-see-snowdrops
March 2015
http://highlife.ba.com/articles/the-uk-s-best-foodie-breaks/
BBC Southeast Today – Robin Gibson about True Crime Museum
Group Leisure Magazine and online – True Crime Museum
Coast Magazine: Rye April edition
d) Some recent results from trade visits
JTB Japanese travel company
Digital leaflet with Rye package in went live Feb 13th 2015 – Joshi-Tabi (female travelers)
bit.ly/1zzW8DM
Worldbridge visit to Rye and surrounds – 15 walkers – 2 nights hotel – 20 – 22 May
Jalpak – visit to Rye and fishermen – 18 June
e) Social Media
Twitter: 4,617 followers (increase of 300)
Facebook: 4,488 likes (increase of 387 after Digital Visitor campaign)
Increased engagement on both social media. More businesses are including our Twitter handle in their tweets in the hope of a RT. Visit England and influential journalists RTing us.
f) 2015 Overseas Travel Trade Events taken place since last meeting:
January – Vakantiebeurs, Utrecht 13 – 18 Jan (117,000 visitors 2015)
January 24th – Excursions, Alexandra Palace, in conjunction with other Sussex local authority destinations (1,230 visitors on the day).
February - Nordic trade mission, via TSE representation
February - Salon de Tourisme, Brussels 5 – 9 Feb (97.586 visitors 2015)
February 26 – Day media workshop Brussels
Feb – Explore GB – inbound international trade event, via TSE. Canadian trade visit from this, via Visit Britain as a result of a ‘fam trip’ we hosted three years ago from VB travel trade rep to the area.
March – TSE media evening event, London, UK press.
BOBI – TSE representation and brochure distribution.
Tourism Show Essex – representation and brochure distribution via TSE and Pashley Manor
Saint Hill Manor brochure exchange (STA) – Yesterdays World & English Heritage looked after the stand
Still to do
Michelham Priory brochure exchange (STA) – ditto above
March – Holiday Show – Dover
August – Trade visits Germany
g) Thematic Campaigns with Visit England
Heritage – Spring campaign – currently live on Classic FM.
Also to note:
From the 1st April 2015 Brochure Connect will be responsible on behalf of Rother District Council for the supply and distribution of local information brochures to various locations through the Rother area. The service will be offered free of charge to qualifying organisations within the District. Our aim is to reach not just visitors to the area but local residents as well, informing them about the many leisure opportunities on offer. If you are interested in this service please contact us as soon as possible as capacity is limited. Please contact Larissa Bashir at Larissa@brochureconnect and she will make the necessary arrangements to distribute your print.
Battle
Had a presentation from Brochure Connect on the above.
Busy working towards 950th Anniversary – looking at a 5 month programme of events starting with the Battle Fete in June next year to the Bonfire night in November. This also includes the concorde 2016 event on Friday 14th.
This year (2015) looking at the Battle Festival in the summer, Keane Trail and Pop Up Battle event (previously called Craft Fayre)
Slight issues with Yesterday World/TIC service – on going discussions.
Battle are using a Digital Campaign for Battle Marbles and their summer events, and Arrow FM.
Bexhill
Good number of events taking place in Bexhill:
Many at the De La Warr
Family event in the park
Roaring 20s
Carnival and
Bexhill Motor Festival
Hastings
Kevin Boorman updated the group on a new attraction in Hastings – True Crimes Museum which is also hosting the partners evening on Thursday this week.
Hastings Pier – hoping an opening date will be announced by the end of the month – they had a lot of damage from the storms in February 2014 which has caused some delay.
BMX/Skateboard park at the White Rock Baths will have physical work starting within the next couple of weeks – this attraction will create 42 local jobs and is part of a £1m scheme.
Rye
John reported that Rye held its Scallop Festival recently
Plans for events as normal for the summer
Cinema has re-opened and doing well (causing parking problems in town though)
Guide being distributed by Brochure Connect
John also mentioned that as this was his last 1066 Executive Board as he would be standing down as he is moving out of town. Derek also mentioned that he is leaving Rye. Both were thanked for their support to 1066 Country and wished them well. An election would not have to take place for Rye.
Wealden
Jane reported that they have printed 100,000 copies of their Attractions Guide and going well.
New Attraction is opening in May at Bentley Wildfowl – Branching Out – very similar to Go Ape.
Cuckoo Line celebrates 50years of being closed this year so many walks, cycling events, exhibitions and a train film will be held throughout the year.
Food & Wine Festival this year will be held at Bentley Wildfowl on 22nd/23rd August – it was agreed that this event would be taken around the district.
Walking Festival will be held again
Working on a Vineyard Trail with Peter Gladwin and Ken Maitland – there are 57 Vineyards in the area so promotion/signage is being looked into.
7 1066 WEBSITE AND WORKING GROUP
Debs mentioned that a working group meeting was held in January with two new members.
It has been agreed to go commission free for our bookings – we are the only one to do this in the South East so a press release has been issued.
Looking at platforms for the website at the moment (currently with New Mind) but TSE are also up for renewal with them so working together to explore options.
Next meeting planned for June.
Webstie:
Continue to increase in visitor number
January up by 23%
February up by 38% - popular dates for FAT Tuesday event and Half Term.
Have online offers with new partners SE Rail and Stagecoach – they are listing events/vouchers.
Working on optimisation for google etc to be listed higher up the page.
TripAdvisor has done well with 27,000 view on page, campaign lasts until July this year.
Running a promotion for English Tourism Week in the four Observers, Battle, Bexhill, Hastings and Rye – has page of attractions all taking part.
8 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Visit England (domestic market) and Visit Britain (International market) are now separate companies and a report is available if any member would like to see it.
Kevin mentioned that the TIC in Hastings will have new signage and a dedicated team for it – but noted that Aquila House is being refurbished this year..
Diane mentioned that Lewes are being proactive with their brochures this year which is good.
9 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 23rd June, 2pm at Brede Steam Engine Society.
The meeting closed at 11.55 am.